STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- There are an estimated 60 million people, 1 in 5 Americans, living and working in rural areas across the United States. All 50 State Offices of Rural Health (SORH), rural healthcare providers, industry partners, Federal and state agencies alike will observe National Rural Health Day (NRHD) on Thursday, November 16, 2017, an annual event that to date has received Governor's Proclamations from over 20 states across the U.S.

The overriding theme of NRHD, Power of Rural, strives to give a voice to the efforts of those who are working to serve the unique healthcare needs that exist in America's rural communities.

As part of NRHD, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) will host a series of free and timely webinars on November 16. Registration is now open to members of the media, rural health leaders, clinical teams, and health stakeholders. Topics include the latest on Federal rural health policy, community-based solutions to address the abuse of narcotics and the opioid crisis, and a session outlining the common characteristics of thriving rural hospitals despite mounting challenges and growing threats of closure. In addition, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) will highlight the Power of Rural and center on the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSAs) Bureaus and Offices and HHS agencies collaborations to improve rural health highlighted in a series of Twitter chats. To learn more about FORHP's NRHD activities, follow @HRSAgov and the #OurRural. Another online event not to miss is an exclusive Twitter chat on the social determinants of health in rural America, co-hosted by NOSORH, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and other national organizations. This chat will begin at 12:00 p.m. ET on November 16. To register for this and other NRHD events visit PowerofRural.org.

For those who want to step out on NRHD and help transform the single day event into a movement, there are Walk with a Doc events planned in eight states. Columbus, Ohio-based cardiologist, Dr. David Sabgir, launched this grassroots campaign in 2005 as a plan to promote behavior change aimed at improving the health of patients. There are over 300 Walk with a Doc chapters nationwide.

Finally, on NRHD, each SORH, rural hospitals, clinics, community leaders, and legislators are encouraged to use the #PowerofRural in social media at 11:16 a.m. in each time zone and throughout the day. To learn more, schedule an interview with a rural health expert, or view a full line-up of events and features, visit http://www.PowerofRural.org.

To schedule an interview with a National Rural Health Day spokesperson, contact Ashley Muninger, Communications & Development Coordinator for the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. Phone: (888) 391-7258 Ext. 104 ashleym@nosorh.org | www.nosorh.org